I love aa good murder mystery book, all the better if there's magic in it.
At first, the book started off slow and I had no idea what was going on. I was confused all the time, about the plot, the characters, the friendships. And I couldn't really connect with either Benji or Hetty
But then, things suddenly changed. The story picked up, the characters became more clear to me and I fell in love with Hetty and Benji.
I loved the flashbacks, their way to freedom. It was amazing to read a book with black leads, and an exclusive black cast of characters.
And what really kept me captivated was the fact that I could not tell who the killer was. Every time I was sure of someone, something would happen and I'd change my mind.
All in all, this is a good book, especially for a debut novel. It's historical fantasy, murder mystery, magic. I liked it very much!

I want to start off by saying a few positive things about The Conductors. Firstly, I am not an #ownvoices reviewer so can’t speak to the historical accuracy nor how the legacy of slavery and the Civil War truly impacts black people, but I really enjoyed that this book included a wide variety of black characters. The Conductors features rich people and poor people, former slaves and free settlers, those who are still haunted by the Civil War and those who are doing their best to move on. Every character has unique and complex motivations, and is dealing with the cards they’ve been handed in their own way: there is very clearly no single post-Civil War mentality. When I read the synopsis, I thought this book sounded like a unique perspective on Civil War era literature, and the characters, at least, lived up to that ideal.

I also love marriages of convenience as a trope, so I really enjoyed Hetty and Benjy’s relationship and watching them slowly come to the realisation that it meant more to them than they were willing to admit, even if they were too scared of losing each other to do anything about it. I was definitely grinning like an idiot when they finally figured it out.

So why didn’t I rate this book more than two stars?

Frankly, because I was endlessly confused for most of it. The plot tries to do too much overall and I couldn’t keep up with all the new plot threads. More relevantly, however, there is a magic system in this book which seems to be loosely based on astrology (but with some healing potions also thrown in), but it’s never really clear how it works, who can wield magic, or what the boundaries of the system are. A lot of the magic-based scenes are hard to follow as a result. It’s also mentioned that white people practice different magic to black people, and that black people with ‘too much’ magic were routinely enslaved because they were perceived as a threat, but this was never really explored and I couldn’t understand the differences except that white people waved wands about like they were in Harry Potter. I thought the idea was hugely creative and could have been an interesting allegory for race relations, but it really needed a lot more fleshing out.

The lack of world-building also extends to the historical setting itself: this felt like 1800s Philadelphia in name only (and a few honorary mentions of wagons). I didn’t necessarily need a story that was only about how much it sucked to be black/a woman/queer historically, but there was very little sense of context. There is a lot of anachronistic dialogue. There are passing references to queer couples, women seeking to escape domestic abuse, and divides in who has access to resources like education, but the impacts of these issues are never fully explored, even though we are still feeling the after-effects of 19th century inequalities today. I appreciated that this is a story about a black community, rather than focusing on the white oppressors, but it felt like there was a gap in the story that could have been explored more.

A lot of these issues feel like common criticisms of debut authors still figuring out how to balance plot/characters/world-building, and I hope that’s the case, because there were a lot of interesting ideas in this book that that never quite made it to the surface. I’m not sure I’ll read any sequels to this particular story, but I’ll keep an eye out for what else Nicole Glover writes. I’m also keen to read more fantasy novels based on this time period, and hope this might inspire a few more.

P.S.. A note for the publishers - there were quite a few missing words in my copy. Not enough to fully distract me from the story, but enough to warrant another proof-read before this one gets printed.

3.75-4 stars

C/W: The book is set and focuses on Black Philadelphia post-Civil War and therefore will contain references to the time period.

Before I start this review, I highly encourage you to look at own voices reviews for "The Conductors".

I genuinely wish that this was a duology. There was so much going on with this book from a new magical system, to the murder mysteries, to the lives of Black people post-Civil War (looking specifically at Philidelphia). The cast is made up solely of Black characters and provides interesting commentary on the time period.

The above only scratches the surface of the subject matter "The Conductors" is trying to deal with. Some moments in this book were incredibly haunting and I wish the writing had lingered a bit more to flesh out both the characters and world-building.

The more I read "The Conductors" the more I disliked the pacing. The pacing is not slow, but rather too fast and incredibly cramped. There is a lot going on in this story and I wished that it was either double the length or more than one book.

If you are looking for something new, I would recommend "The Conductors". The premise felt like something new and exciting to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for giving me an e-arc of "The Conductors" by Nicole Glover to review. All opinions stated are my own. "The Conductors" comes out 2 March 2021.

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This was quite spectacular. Former slaves working the underground railroad including magic, just plain spectacular!!

This was a solid debut! Very well researched and nuanced in a way that a lot of books about ex-enslaved persons are not. Characters were well-rounded and their interactions really highlighted a lot of their distinct personality traits well, although the dialogue was sometimes a little wooden. The plot's resolution leaned on some new information in a way that was a little clumsy, but I still enjoyed following it and was satisfied at the conclusion.
This was a great debut. I'm really excited to see more from Glover and I hope she turns this into the series it deserves to be.

I really enjoyed the world developed in The Conductors, and really liked the way the reader was dropped into a fully formed life. I am very interested in the magic systems (two!) that were introduced in this book, and look forward to learning more about it, particularly the limitations and comparative strength.
Being Australian (and white) I didn’t know much about the underground railroad or the complicated situation left after America outlawed slavery. The Conductors (as far as I could tell) handled the situation well, not shying away from the heartbreaking situations created, but also not becoming mired in tragedy.
The plot is a fairly classic mystery premise, to discover a murderer. I liked that Hetty and Benjy had previous investigative experience, and were incredibly proficient at magic as well as their trades. There was still plenty of tension and hurdles to overcome, not least of which was the still-racist society that The Conductors is set in. While Hetty and Benjy’s race certainly affected the way they lived their lives, it wasn’t the only important factor in the book. Writing a book in the setting and having black characters (freed slaves no less) be unaffected by racism would have been revisionism to an insulting extent, but if you’re worried about Hetty or Benjy being written more as a moral lesson than characters in their own right, don’t. The real-world building aspects of The Conductors were written in exactly the same way as the fantasy elements, and it truly helped the world and the characters in this book truly come to life, rather than seeming like a heavy-handed lesson.
I loved the unexpected romantic moments in this book, and loved the portrayal of a variety of relationship styles in this book. I have a terrible memory, so I did occasionally struggle to remember who the characters were, especially because my kindle account has been terrible so I could only read the book on my laptop so I read this book over a longer time period than usual. Nevertheless, I think the characters in The Conductors did have distinct voices and personalities that, as always, I’d love to learn more about, especially Penelope, Oliver and Thomas.
As far as I know, The Conductors is a stand-alone novel (for now at least), but the mystery format lends itself well to a series that need not necessarily be read consecutively. The world is certainly rich, and the cast broad enough, for this to be the beginning of a very interesting series that I would absolutely read.
One thing I noticed was that conflict tended to be introduced and resolve rather quickly, which made the book feel fast-paced, but at times reduced the perceived severity of the problems. However, I usually read long-running sci fi and fantasy series, so I might just be used to plots that move a lot slower than typical whoddunnit mysteries.
Overall, The Conductors was interesting, a little different to what I usually read, but quite similar at times to Lynn Viehl’s Disenchanted and Co series, Lindsay Buroker’s Emperor’s Edge series and oddly reminiscent at times of a classic Agatha Christie Poirot novel. I’d recommend this to people who enjoy a sprinkle of magic with their historical mysteries.

I was literally blown over by this book. It's a combination on a historical murder mystery, with underground railroad conductors as protagonists, fantasy and a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Hetty and Benjy at the beginning of the story find a body marked with a magical sigil, the body belongs to a person they considered a friend and one of the first people they conducted. Since he has risen in the social order, made a lot of money while they were left on a lower social rung.

I loved the characters and the world building. There are two types of magic in this world, the one Hetty practices is called celestial magic. On the other hand there is Sorcery which people of color are forbidden to practice. The celestial magic is woven into everyday life usually as charms for protection. Hetty's day job is a seamstress while Benjy is a blacksmith. Their marriage is a bit of a sham since they tied the knot to save Hetty's reputation after travelling together. One of my favorite things about this story was the characters slow awakening to the feelings between them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with aמ ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheConductors #NetGalley

I was really excited about this one because the premise sounded really good. Sadly I only got through six chapters of this book. I only made it that far because I was really interested in how the magic system worked, and I kept thinking I'd eventually fall into it. That didn't happen. I just kept getting turned around in the story and kept forgetting who each side characters were. I ended up setting this down and despite knowing I need to pick it up couldn't even bring myself to actually get back into reading it. A week has passed and I realize I'm not going to pick this one back up. I'm super bummed because I wanted to like this one. Maybe it's because it's an ARC, or maybe my mood. This might be one I go back to later once it's published and try again.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While the premise is wildly intriguing, I DNF'd this novel. However, I tried to make it far enough to leave some veritable comments.

What I Liked:
- the whole premise of enslaved POC accessing celestial magic rooted in the constellations? FABULOUS.
- Non-POC access magic through conjuring
- a post-emancipation murder mystery solved by a POC couple? SHOULD HAVE SIGNED ME UP FROM THE JUMP.

What Fell Flat for Me:
- the pacing was slow and even tiresome for me to force myself through
- usually, I can grapple with a non-linear timeline and piece it together if the author weaves their plotlines correctly
-not this time, friends. not this time.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Conductors started off kind of slow for me but it definitely picked up after a chapter or two. Especially after meeting Hetty and Benjy. Now this duo was something I could get behind and invested in. I just wish the whole magic was a bit better in this book. Don't get me wrong, some aspects were a bit magical.. but some of it fell flat for me as well.

Now the solving mysteries was what kept me reading this book. Again, I loved this duo and it was completely interesting and addicting to see what they were going to do next. Even though they started out marrying for convenience.. it starts to show that they actually developed feelings along the way.

Definitely a fun book to dive into. I just wish the magic was better explained to me.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the magic system and the element of history was really well exploited to have a conversation with the reader. I liked the writing style. Overall this book feels unique and like nothing i've read before, which was really refreshing

I was just not very invested in this one. I believe a lot of readers would love this book but it was just not interesting enough for me to continue reading.

The Conductors is a unique and well written blend of historical fiction and fantasy with an exciting premise and multi layered storylines. I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book and of how the magic system and the historical elements would tie in together and this was done to such great effect. The novel follows Hetty and Benjy, a married couple who were once conductors leading enslaved people to freedom and now live in Philadelphia solving crimes. When strange occurrences keep cropping up and getting close to home however, they find themselves locked into a sinister and mysterious plot…

One of my favourite things about this book were the characters, especially Hetty and Benjy our resident crime solving pair. I had no idea before going in that theirs was a marriage of convenience type set up but I really liked how this was done and how sweet their relationship was and how they eventually realise they’ve fallen for each other. Even aside from their romance, their dynamic was so enjoyable to read and I liked how well they communicated and understood each other. It’s always nice to read such healthy married relationships and they are the epitome of this.

As well as Hetty and Benjy being great main characters, I loved the secondary characters and how Nicole Glover has featured the found family trope so prominently. Hetty and Benjy have a group of friends who have become like family to them, each with their own talents and stories. This element of the story becomes especially powerful towards the ending and I liked how the importance of friendship and platonic relationships was highlighted so well. I think this is also so moving because of the sense of loss so many of the characters have faced, being separated from members of their family during Slavery, the friendships they’ve formed after and sense of community have become even more meaningful.

As well as the characters themselves, I really appreciated how Glover weaved between fact and fiction so well. I thought the fact that Hetty and Benjy were conductors, guiding people to safety and freedom was so interesting to read about as a reference to the Underground Railroad. Glover doesn’t hesitate to explore complex issues like class and race, delving into the disparities of experience between the characters in her novel who were ‘born free’ and those who were born during slavery. I also thought the depiction of an elite club of sorts with shady business dealings and heady sense of vice, was compelling and definitely helped heighten the sense of mystery when it comes to the murder mystery part of the plot.

I think for me, the murder mystery plot was one of the most compelling threads but the novel got off to a slightly slower start which meant the conclusion of the mystery felt a tad rushed. There was something about the reveal of the murderer which felt anticlimactic and there were other directions it could have taken which would have made it feel more satisfying. Who the murderer ended up being also felt like a bit of a letdown and I wasn’t bowled over by the reveal either, however I did enjoy the build up just not the culmination of it all.

Overall, The Conductors was an engaging story, with interesting characters readers will really root for and explorations of class and race that serve to establish it firmly as a brilliant new addition to the historical fiction genre. I would happily read many more of Hetty and Benjy’s adventures, I think there’s definitely room for a sequel which follows them exploring a different case or mystery, but I would totally get if this is just a standalone novel as it stands well on its own. I would definitely recommend this to readers who are looking for historical fiction with a fresh twist.

This was an interesting take on some conductors of the Underground Railroad with a twist of magic. I like the idea and the mystery that keeps the story moving, but it fell a little flat for me. I’m not sure what it was- but while it was a good read, it wasn’t great.

3.5 stars
The plot of this book was intriguing as well as the magic system, however I wished there was more depth to the magic system discussed. I didn't really understand how the magic system worked until about halfway through the book when I finally put the pieces together myself; the book did not do much in the way of leading me to understand how these constellations aided in the magic. The characters weren't deeply interesting to me, but I did enjoy the marriage between the two main characters. I cared about their relationship because of its uniqueness, but I didn't feel too attached to either character or any of the interpersonal conflicts.

Have not had a chance to read this yet, but will keep it on my list for a rainy day! Appreciate being offered the reading copy!

3 stars. Interesting enough, but a slow start and disjointed pacing made it difficult to bring it above three stars. The premise of a famous magical duo of former Underground Railroad conductors now turned unofficial detectives in post-Civil War Philadelphia was very intriguing. There were some really well done interludes of community life and the hardships of living with black skin right after the end of slavery. I thought the romance was very sweet and made me feel warm and fuzzy, and this is coming from someone who usually finds the "falling in love with your spouse who is practically a stranger" trope getting a little hackneyed.

Ultimately though, the interludes distracted from the mystery, which felt a little predictable in any case. I also really would have loved to hear more about Hetty and Benjy's work on the Underground Railroad, and further explanations of this magic system.

Historical fantasy is a too small genre, but I would recommend it to anyone looking for a decent read in that genre, and to those who would enjoy a slower paced slightly slice-of-life mystery novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the ARC!

The Conductors by Nicole Glover

Pros: fantastic worldbuilding, three magic systems, interesting characters, engaging plot

Cons:

Hetty and Benjy Rhodes both escaped slavery in 1858. They became Conductors with the Underground Railway as a way of locating Hetty’s missing sister. Their motto: never leave people behind. With the war over, the pair solve crimes affecting the black community in Philidelphia that police ignore. When one of their friends turns up dead, the case becomes much more personal as they learn more about their friends - and each other.

The worldbuilding is fantastic. The setting is often gritty and harsh, especially the flashbacks. The author really captures the complexity of the world, with various laws, good and bad areas of town, economics and politics. I especially loved the friendship connections surround Hetty and Benjy. Community is hugely important in this book, and I loved seeing the variety of interactions and how Benjy and Hetty helped and were helped in turn by their friends.

There are three magic systems: sorcery using a wand, restricted to white practitioners; celestial magic, a mixture of practices from Africa, the West Indies, and Native Americans, which uses sigils for power; and alchemy or potion magic, created by brewing herbs. While you see less sorcery than the other two, I loved how magic was integrated into the world.

The pacing was great. So much is going on here and the setting and characters were so interesting that I never felt the book slow or drag.

It was fun reading about a couple who married for convenience. It’s great seeing a different kind of marital relationship and I loved seeing the couple’s interactions. They don’t always get along, but it was cool watching people in a strong marriage make up after fights and work together towards their goals.

This is a fantastic book. In many ways it reminds me of Jaime Lee Moyer’s Delia’s Shadow. If you like historical fantasy with great characters, fun magic systems, and an interesting mystery, pick this up.

In total, I think The Conductors by Nicole Glover was a pretty good book! It wasn't anything too super special, but it kept me interested and I was able to power through the moments that dragged on and felt somewhat slow. As the main characters go, Hetty and Benjy are wide-eyed and wonderful. It took me a while to buy into the book as a whole, so at first, I had a hard time connecting with Hetty and Benjy in the ways I wanted to, but at some point, something just clicked for me and I was enraptured by both Hetty and Benjy and their intertwining story! They were awesome characters, and so fun to read.

This book has a really strong representation, and I loved the fantasy element. It feels like this book traced the intersectionality of many genres really well - historical, fantasy, mystery, and even a subplot that leaned romance! I'd recommend this to a friend, for sure.

I wanted to love this book. Civil War and Reconstruction era America with magic should have been awesome.

I was so disappointed because the synopsis sounded right up my alley, but the story just doesn’t go anywhere and she didn’t spend any time building this alternate world so it’s just blah.